As the European Commission’s latest report reveals, our country is among the top four in the European Union investing the largest share of its Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) funds in research and development. Seventeen percent of Portugal’s 22.2 billion euros around 3.7 billion is dedicated to science, innovation, and the transformation of ideas into real economic value.

For a nation often described as a “moderate innovator,” this is not just progress. It is a statement of intent. It shows that Portugal understands that true resilience comes not only from rebuilding infrastructure or balancing accounts, but from empowering knowledge, creativity, and collaboration.

This bold allocation marks a turning point in national policy. It reflects a clear awareness that the economy of the future will be driven by those who invest in research today. By dedicating such a large portion of its PRR resources to innovation, Portugal is signaling its ambition to move beyond adaptation and take on a leadership role in the European innovation landscape.

What makes this commitment even more remarkable is that it surpasses not only our neighbours, but also some of Europe's most established innovators. Only Germany, Denmark and Finland recognized as global leaders in research invest a higher percentage of their RRP funds in research and development. Among the group of "moderate innovators", which includes countries such as Spain, Italy and Greece, Portugal is ultimately alone at the top. This reveals a remarkable evolution in national priorities: thank God, we are no longer content to follow the trends we have begun to establish.

Much of this investment focuses on strengthening the collaboration between companies, universities, and research centers. The aim is to translate scientific knowledge into market-ready innovations, from advanced agriculture to green technologies and digital transformation. Fifty “mobilizing agendas” are already in motion, involving more than a thousand organizations and nearly eight billion euros in investment. These initiatives are planting the seeds for a more competitive and sustainable Portuguese economy.

Of course, Brussels reminds us that challenges remain. With only a quarter of the R&D goals achieved so far, there is still work to be done. But rather than seeing this as a weakness, it should be viewed as a reminder that transformation takes time and courage. Building an innovative culture is not a sprint; it is a long-term national project that requires consistency, belief, and leadership.

Portugal’s focus on research and development also carries another powerful message: that young academic talents can have a future here. For too long, many of our brightest minds have looked abroad for opportunities. Now, we are building the conditions for them to stay, to create, and to transform Portugal into a country that competes not through cost but through creativity and quality.

This is more than an economic strategy, it is a cultural shift. We are redefining what it means to grow. Portugal is no longer content to watch others innovate; we are investing boldly in our capacity to think, invent, and inspire.